Shawn’s 2017 Favorites

Putting together my annual list of favorite albums seems to get harder every year. Much of what I hear comes across my desk in the form of discs or downloads from publicists, labels, and musicians themselves. I also got a few “you’ve got to hear so-and-so” missives from friends and colleagues whose musical tastes I really respect. Add it all up and it’s been a good year for new tunes here in Twangville. Here are the albums I most liked.

The Waifs – Ironbark: OK, yes, there’s a little irony in the fact that my favorite Americana album of the year is from an Australian band. But these guys have been together 25 years and Ironbark is a celebration of that achievement. It’s got folk and country, roots joy and protest songs, and even a spoken word “rap” about growing up in the outback. The three core members emphasize their vocals more than their instruments so unless you’re searching for a banjo jam this has something for everyone.

Phoebe Hunt & the Gatherers – Shanti’s Shadow: I’ve long been a fan of Phoebe and her vocal range and ability, and she plays a pretty mean fiddle to boot. With her new New York version of the Gatherers, she’s expanding her musical playbook and that serves to showcase her songwriting talents as well. From the soaring notes of Take Me Home to the head-bobbing rhythms of Linthead Gal, this record also presents a wide variety of styles.

Son Volt – Notes Of Blue: Jay Farrar’s previous album explored the country and honky tonk influences in his music. With Notes Of Blue, he dove even deeper into his roots and you hear some of the Mississippi Delta that’s part of his “normal” sound. It’s a good album on his own, and also interesting from the perspective of how his music developed.

Band Of Heathens – Duende: A few years ago it seemed the Heathens were everyone’s favorite new band. Life happens, though, the line up changed, they moved away from Austin, and, IMO, they kind of lost their way. With Duende, they’re back. This is roots rock at its finest.

The Mavericks – Brand New Day: At this point it’s kind of hard to say anything new about The Mavericks. Release after release, they knock it out of the park with their unique salsa/country/soul music and leader Raul Malo’s vocals. They did it again with Brand New Day.

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings – Kings And Kings: A series of duets with musical heroes of the Kings, this is a record that sounds good played loud. There’s straight ahead rock and roll with the likes of Jason Isbell and Buddy Miller, and over to a bluesier sound with Keb Mo, Raul Malo, and others.

Gerry Spehar – I Hold Gravity: Recorded while his wife was dying from cancer, Spehar created a celebration of their life, and particularly some of their road trips, together. Together, they could be the basis for a novel or a movie, but in this case they constitute an album I found hard to take out of my playlist rotation.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound: Isbell goes further outside his own demons than on his last couple of releases, but the passion and raw power of the songs is still there. For songs filled with emotional and intellectual energy, it’s hard to beat Isbell these days.

David Rawlings – Poor David’s Almanac: I don’t really know where Rawlings ends and partner Gillian Welch begins anymore, they’re so seamless as songwriters and performers. The result practically defines the word “craft” as it relates to music.

The Sadies – Northern Passage: As probably Canada’s widest ranging band, the brothers Good and their bandmates made a rock and roll record in their parents basement. Literally. The resulting album hits all the bases in their repertoire and features the twin-lead-guitar sound that these days is unmistakably The Sadies.

Emily Zuzik – Tender EP

Front Country – Other Love Songs

Nikki Lane – Highway Queen

Marty Stuart – Way Out West

The Coffis Brothers & the Mountain Men – Roll With It

Yonder Mountain String Band – Love. Ain’t Love

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Tell the Devil I’m Getting There As Fast As I Can

John Moreland – Big Bad Love

Chris Stapleton – From A Room, Vol 1

Pokey LaFarge – Manic Revelations

About the author: Support new music. Listen to a band or singer you've never heard of this week. I've been doing that for over 30 years.